Open flow bailer valve



Nov. 24, 1931. F. B. ALLDREDGE OPEN FLOW BAILER VALVE Filed Oct. 10, 1928 U WM,

7 parts ofmy valve, whereby the objeots'con- '3 templated are attained as hereinaftermore fully setforth, pointed out in myclaims, and

Patented Nov. 2 4 1931 ITED; sTA TEs. PATENT OFFICE rnAivoIsB. ALLDREDGE; F DES 'Momns; Iow A, ASSIGNOR or ONE-FIFTH T0 BAIB,

[FREEMAN & SINCLAIR,

0F DES MOINES, IOWA, A COPARTNER-SHIP COMPOSED 0]? ILLIA earn, WILL FREEMAN; ANDYEVARL m. SINCLAIR orm: FLOW BAILER VALVE Applicationfiled October 10, 1928. Serial No. 311,491).

My present invention has to do with a valve used for bailers of the kind employed for instance in taking liquids and other. matter out of oil wells and the like! Itis the purpose of my invention to provide a valve adapted for use in such a bailer, so constructed, and arranged and mounted in thebaileras to afford a maximum opening for the passageiof fluid and other material past the valve upwardly and downwardly.

l/Vith these and other objects in view my lIlVBIltlOII consistsxn the -comblnation, ar rangement and constructionofthe various illustrated in the accompanying drawii1gs,'in whleha V I r Figure 1 is a vertical, sectional view through the lower portion of 1a bailer equippedwith a valve embodying my invention, the upper part'of the bailer and the lower part of the valve stem being broken away.- 7' w e p Figure 2 is a vertical, sectional view taken at right angles to the View shown in Figure 1 and Y 'Figure 3 is a view similar to that shown in Figure 1 illustrating the valve in its open position.v

It is a common practice in the oil fields to use for removingliquids and some other matter from oil wells, bailers which have in their lower ends valves havingdownwardly projecti-ng' stems so arranged that'when the bailer is dropped the stem engages some ob lstruction and raises the valve to permit liquid and other 'matterto flow upwardly through the bottom of the bailer into the bailer past the valve. v,

I These valves are so arranged as to automatically close when'the bailer is raised until the valve stem clears'suoh obstruction.

".The valves heretofore employed have been subject to the objection that their construction was such as to permit the employment of arelatively small opening at the valve seat and to allow onlyfailimited opening for the passage offiuid and. theflike when the valves were open. 7

I have in my present valve structure provided one which eliminates these objections and afl'ords a larger maximum opening a bailer indicated in the accompanying drawings by the reference numeral .10. The bailer 10 "comprises a tubular member open at its lower end; I Projected into the lower end of the bailer 10 is a valve casing 12, which has at its upper portion an exterior, annular rabbet 14 to receive the lower end of the bailer 10.

The valve casing 12projects downwardly substantially below the lower end of the bailer 10.

The upper end of the casing 12 forms a valveseat 16' within the lower end of the bailer spaced inwardly from the wall thereof and spaced above the lower end of the bailer.

My improved valve 18 comprises a member having generally the form of a hemisphere with the flat side normally up as illustrated in Figure 1. Formed or arranged on what is normally the fiat upper surface of the valve 18 is what I shall for convenience call a valve mounting element 19. I shall describe this mounting element as though the valve were in its normal'closed position in an upright bail. 1 I

The mounting element 19 has the form of a body, the thickest portion of which is in line with the vertical axis of the valve. The upper surface of the element 19 is inclined from its upper part downwardly and practically to theedge of the valve 18 for a little more I The upper end'ot the casing 12 has on opposite sides upwardly projecting ears 24 illus- V trated for instance in Figure 8, which are slightly less thick than the generalbody of the casing 12, as illustrated for instance in Figure 2. l

A pin 26'is received in suitable: holes 28 in the ears 24 and projected through the slot 22 as illustrated in all of the figures;

In the under side of the valve'18 is a transverse slot 30 extending more than half Way horizontally across the valve as illustrated, There is provided a valvestem32, the upper end or" which is received in: the slot 30 andnispivotally supported on the valve by means of. a pin 34 extended horizontally through the lower part of the valve and through the upper end ofthe stem 32 in such manner as to permit tree pivotal movement of the stem ona horizontal axis.

The pin 34 isparallel with the pin 26 but is slightly oil": the vertical axis of the valve as shown in Figure 1 on the s1de of the valve opposite the passage 20. that is to say-to the leftof the passage20 as the partsare ranged as to serve as a stop when'the valve is" actuated in the shown in Figure 1. I i v V The lower part ofthe stem is widened as at'32ato slide'andfit snugly inthe lower part of the casing 12. At its lower end the portion 32a has the opposite shoulders 32?), so larmanner now to be de scribed. l 1 v z a,

Assume that the parts are in. theirnormal positions'slio-wn inFigures 1 and 2, thenthe practical operation of the valve may be describedas follows: If the bailer 10 is lowered: into an oil hole until the lower portion 32a of the stem 32' meets any obstruction 36, it will be seen that the s -em be'forced upwardly because of theolfset'arrangement of the pin 34; with relation to the pin 26, and the valve will be tilted from its position shown in Figure 1 to itsposition shown in F1gure3.

Thelparts are so arrangedthat when the valve is tilted to the positionsho-wn in Figure 3', the shoulders 32?) will engage the lower end ofthe valve casing 12 and prevent any further upward movement or further tiltingiot the valve 12. I

ll hen the valve is .thus tilted instea'dof beingraised directly upright, it is seen that a comparatively large 'passageA. is" afforded alongside the valve. This facilitates the quick tilting and emptying ofthe bailen lVhen the bailer is'drawn upwardly, the weight of the stem-and thevalve is such that the valve will automatically dropto seated position. 7 After the bailer has been withdrawn from the hole, it be emptied by'lowering it until the valve opening operation again occurs.

The casing 12 is mounted in the lower. end of the bailer 10 in any suitable way to, permit the removal of the casing 12 for purposes of valve. repair'or replacement. 7

\Vith' a valve and valve mounting of this kind, the total area of the opening at the valve seat is the maximum that would be possible and the passage A is large enough so that clogging of the bailer maybe almost'entirely eliminated. This is a very important feature because bailers of this kind are hard to clean out whenthe valve opening is clogged.

There are a number of advantages also in the details of the structure of the present. de-

vice. r

It will be noted that when the valve is in normal seated position, as shown for instance in Figure 1, it can not tilt upwardly to the right becauseofthe engagement of the stem 32 with the wall 30a of theslot 30;.

The construction is suchthat the slot 80 is 'coveredat all times so that it is notlikely to be clogged by material passing downwardly tromthe bailer. r I 1 i Y The slot22 is also eovered'and the material on both sides of the: slot-22 is preferably beveled as indicated for instance at 38 in Figure 2 toprevent the catching of any pebbles or'other material that'might lodge in the l t P V p l The same is true of the material above and below the-passage 20.

,The bailer may be let teetzotliquid, and it is obvious that the liquid itself may force the valve 18- 01? its seat,-so that the bailer can slide'through theliquid without .ditficulty. lVhe-n the bailer reaches down through many the bottom of the hole, it is sometimes churned up and down, order to-cause it to take in,

not only liquid, but dirt and rocks. In order 26, which permits the valve to raise and also to tilt and slide on the pin for moving to its open position shown in Figure 3.

The construction and arrangement of the parts of my improved valve and valvemounting may be varied somewhat as to details without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents, which may be reasonably included within theirscope. Y

' I claim as my invention:

1. Ina structure of the class described, the

combinationot a. bailer member having an open lower end, with a valveseatin such the valve below the bailer, and meansfor operatively connecting the valve with the b-ailer to cause the valve to tilt and slide upwardly away from the seat when the bailer is low-:

, for cooperating with said-seat from above,a

slidable, pivotal mounting for the valve above its central part, and .a down-hanging stem, for actuating the valve for opening movement pivotally and slidably on such mounting.

I 3; In a structure of the class'described, the

combination of a bailer member having an open lower end, with a valve'seat in such lower end, a movable valve 1 for cooperating with said seat, a stem pivoted to the under side of the valve and projecting below the casing, and means for loosely slidably mounting the valve above its center, to permit it to be actuated by the stem for tilting it.

4, In a structure of the class described, the combination of a bailer member having an open lower end, with a valve seat in such i is lowerend, a movable valve for cooperating with said seat, a stem pivoted to the'under side of the valve and projecting below the casing, and means for loosely slidably mounting the valve above its center, to per- 7 mit it to be actuated by the stem'for'tilting it,

so that one side swings upwardly and the 0pposite side downwardly.

5'. In a structure of the class described, the

combination of a bailenmember having an open lower end, with a valve seat 1n such lower end, a movable valve'for cooperating with said seat, a stempivoted to the under side of the valve, and guide means on the bailer member for mounting the valve for limited vertical and for tilting movement;

6. In a structure of the class described, the

I combination of a bailer member. having an open lower end, wlth a valve seat in such lower end, a movable valve for cooperating with said seat, a stem pivoted to the under side of the valve, and means for mounting Qthe valve-for limited vertical and for tilting movement on an axis parallel with that of the stem pivot.

7 7L In a structure of the class described, the combination of a bailer member having an open lower end, with a valve seat in such lower end, a movable valve for cooperating with said seat, a stem pivoted to the under side of the valve, and means for mounting the valve for limited vertical and for tilting ;movement on an axis parallel with that of the stem pivot, one of said axes being off the normal vertical axis of the valve.

. e 8. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a bailer member having an open lower end, with a valve seat in such lower end, a movable valve for cooperating with said seat, a stem pivoted to the under side of the valve,and means formounting the valve for limited vertical and for tilting movement on a horizontal axis parallelwith that of the stem pivot.

' 9; In a structure of the class described, the combination of a bailer member having an open lower end, with a valve seat in such lower end, a movable valve for cooperating with said seat, a stem pivoted to the under side of the valve, and guide means on the bailer member for mounting the valve for limited vertical and for tilting movement on ahorizontal axis. 7

10. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a bailer member having an open lower end with an interior annular valve seat, with a valve for cooperating with such seat, having its seating face in the shape of a portion of the surface of a sphere, guide means on the bailer member for mounting the valve to permit it to be tilted on a horizontal axis above its seating plane.

11. In a structure of the class described,

the combination of a bailer member having an open'lower end'with an interior annular valve seat, with a valve for cooperating with such seat, having its seating face in the shape of a portion of the surface of a sphere, guide meanson the bailer member for mounting the valve to permit it to be tilted on a horizontalaxis above itsseating plane, and a stem pivoted to the lower part of the valve to hang downwardly. Y

12. In a structure of the class described, the combinationof a bailer member having an open lower end with an interior annular valveseat, with a valve for cooperating with such seat by seating from above, having its seating face in the shape of a portion of the surface of a sphere, meanson the bailer m'ember for mounting. the valve to permit it to be tilted on a horizontal axis above its seating plane, and a stem pivoted to the lower part of the valve on a parallel axis to hang downwardly.

13. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a bailer member having an open lower end with an interior annular vvalveseat, with a valve for cooperating with such seat, having its seating face in the shape of a portion of thesurface of a sphere, means on the bailer member for mounting the valve to permit it to be tilted on a horizontal axis above its seating plane, said valve having in itsunder surface a slotextending horizontally from its periphery past its vertical center (when seated) and a stem pivoted, in said slot. i

14-. In a structure of-the class described, the combination of a bailermember having an open lower end with an interior annular valve seat, with a valve for cooperating with such seat, having its seating face in the shape of aportion of the surface of a sphere, means I having in its under surta'ce'a slot extending horizontally from its peripherypast its verticalc-ente'r (when seated) and a stem pivoted in said-slot,v on an axis parallelv withsaid the bailer member'toli mit first axis. r c v c i 15 In a-strncture of the'class described the combination of a bailer member having an open lower end with. an interior annular valve seat, with a valve forcooperating with such-'seatg'h'aving its seating face intheshape of a portion of the surface of a sphere means the bailer member for" mounting the valve topermit it to be slid and to be tilted on'a horizontal axis above its seating plane, and a pivoted stein for causing the'tilting move men-t of the valve, said stem coacting with the movement 01 the -valve in opening. 7 7

16. In a structure. of the class described, the combination of a bailer member having an open 7 lower end with an interior annular valve seat, with a valve fer'cooperating'with "su h seat, having its seating face in the sha-pe at a porticn o'f the surface oifia sphere, means en the bailer member for-mounting theva'lve to permit it to bebodily raised and to be rocked ion. a horizontal axis centrally above its seating plane, and means for limiting the rocking moveinent of the valve, said last.

means serving to constrain the valve teward seated'position. g I

17 .Ina structure of the 'cla'ss described, the "combination of a bailer member having an open-lower end with alt-interior annular valvesea t, with a valve for cooperating with such seat by seating'from' above, having its seatingface in theshape of a portion of the surface of sphere means on the bailer member for mounting the valve 'abeve'its seatto permit it to be bodily raised and. also rocked on a horizontal axis centrally above the seat. 18. In a structure of the-class described, the combination of a bailer member-having an open lower end with an interior annular valve seat, with a valve tor cooperating with such seatg'in-eans on the bailer member for mounting the valve for limited bodilyslidable movement. i i

V 19. In a structure of the class described mounting the valvefor limited-bodily slidable movement and for pivetal movement,

20. Ina structure of the class'descri bed,- the-combination of agbailermemberhaving an epen lower end-with sin-interior annular and ine'anstfor actuating the valve for openingmovement, the parts being so arrangedinovementlthe parts being so arranged that,

when the valve is operated it is lifted, tilted and also slid laterally toward thewall of the bailermembeiu- 1 i1, l i Des Moines, Iowa, September 13,1928. c FRANCIS B. ALLDREDGE.

valve seat, with a valve for cooperating with r suc'h seat, means on the bailer' member for mounting the valve for limited bodily slidable'movementand'for pivotal movement, 

